2020

2020Volume 67 Issue 3

From the Editor - In September, my family started the 2020-2021 school year from home, and I tell you what—we are just as busy as we were whe we were all going out in a normal, pre-pandemic world.

My husband and I are both Coast Guard civilians, as well as Coast Guard reservists, and when you add in proctoring school for our three sons, it feel like the world needs to stop spinning this fast. Feels like I need an eighth day of the week so I can catch my breath…

Two thoughts on this, though

The first one, short and sweet: “Busy is a decision.” This is a quote from Debbie Millman, a brilliant designer interviewed by Tim Ferriss on his podcast (And you know how I love podcasts.)

She talked about how it’s become cultural cachet to use being busy as an excuse. Millman continued: “We do the things we want to do, period. If w say we are too busy, it is shorthand for ‘not important enough.’ It means you would rather be doing something else that you consider more important… You don’t find the time to do something; you make the time to do things.” That’s so honest, I get a chill reading it

So, hold that thought for a second while I give you another. I read an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “Stop Feeling Guilty About Your ToDo List,” which basically said that we need to make peace with the notion that we’ll never, ever be caught up. No matter how much we game it out, there are always going to be those quick turn-around items, as well as those chance opportunities to counsel, mentor, teach and listen. And besides, lists are just guides; we’re not robots. We’re re-prioritizing. As a type-A person with lists long enough to tie my corframs together, I admit, this is a hard pill to take. My day feels like it’s done when my list is all checked off

And yet, if I think about it just a hair longer, the relief creeps into the corners of my mind when I admit that this level of rigidity is setting me up for failure. This set of ideas is more than just good advice for how to manage the routine of school and work during a pandemic—this is a strategy for a life well-lived. When you slough off that busy-ness and routine, and focus your time and effort on the diamond priorities, things become clearer… and just a little easier. I’ve had to rearrange a lot of things in my life to make sure my family stays #1, my expectations for myself stay reasonable, and my commands (both civilian and military) stay well-informed. There’s dozens of ways the routine can get tripped up, but I try not to think too far ahead of myself. One day at a time. So, I have to remember these two concepts: distilling your effort to the most important things, and stay focused on the long game, even when the day gets away from you. This concept is still tough for a type-A like me; I’m not used to relinquishing control—the idea still needs some marinating.

I wrote myself a sticky note with a half-dead Sharpie and posted it near my desk in my new home office—a second-hand dining room table with a small laptop. My husband sits opposite me, at the other end of the table, and we take turns being the parent-on-call, fielding questions from our children, making the lunches, reviewing the homework—this in between calls from our bosses, meetings via videoconference, and weaving in the odd day or two per week in the office.

But, now is the winter of our discontent; life is still moving forward. This is my final issue before starting a set of active duty orders for the 2021 Inauguration. I worked on the 2017 Inauguration as well, just before accepting this job. Working with the five-service joint task force to put on the ceremonial parts of the Inauguration was one of the most rewarding opportunities of my Coast Guard career, and, while it came with its challenges, I’m looking forward to doing it again.

Doesn’t mean I’ll forget you, dear readers. Email your story ideas at TheReservist@uscg.mil, and I’ll put them together for a springtime issue, around February 2021. I’ll be back in a few months; be good while I’m away

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From the Editor - In September, my family started the 2020-2021 school year from home, and I tell you what—we are just as busy as we were when we were all going out in a normal, pre-pandemic world.

I remember when the coronavirus first hit, and I was thinking how glad I was that we had just wrapped the previous issue at the beginning of March.

Trying to wash anything my kids touched, coordinating work-from-home schedules, sharing childcare and teaching responsibilities with my husband, navigating the unknown… it took a toll, but at least the latest issue of the magazine was out.

I was happy I’d scheduled my ADT for around late March, as I do every year, but not as happy as my command, who was thrilled to have me show up during such a busy, uncertain time.

When I was working on the Coast Guard’s coronavirus website—writing articles for it, writing the FAQs that you might have read—it felt good to have a hand in something that was providing help. The effect of having a finished product at the end of the day, having made a little progress in something, it just felt cathartic in a way.

But I know I’m one of the lucky ones who still got to go to work when all this was happening. I know many readers who didn’t, who had their drills and ADT canceled without a clear plan for rescheduling, and are still reeling from the effects. And when you add to it the complications from the glitch with the hard stop in Direct Access on scheduling or changing drills after May 1… we’ve just been thrown, collectively, for a loop.

In fact, one petty officer I interviewed for one of the stories in this issue told me, “I don’t even remember how to be a reservist anymore.”

It does feel like a confusing time.

One thing that remains the same at a time like this is how relevant the Reserve is, how needed we are. And the thing that makes us, as reservists, shine is our ability to adapt to the unknown. To show up to a role during coronavirus and know it’s not the first time we’ve been called to serve in an unfamiliar role, and we adapted and succeeded.

This is not our first rodeo!

We’re used to things being out of place, doing things with half the information. In fact, I saw a few jokes about the rest of the Coast Guard trying to telework under conditions that reservists experience EVERY TIME we log in remotely.

Welcome to the dark side, shipmates.

But, a rising tide lifts all boats, and there’s a lot of good on the horizon. If you read our admiral’s View from the Bridge column on page 6, you’ll see there’s actually a lot of much-needed change coming down the pike. I’m really excited for the FlexPal.

In the meantime, keep your masks handy and stay tuned as we navigate these waters together.

Click cover image to download a printable pdf

From the Editor - I heard something interesting the other day.

As I’ve said before in this column, I really enjoy podcasts. Comedy, leadership, news, two Coast Guard podcasts, and a few tailor-made for a type A person like me. This tidbit came from a productivity podcast called “Hurry Slowly.”

In one episode, host Jocelyn Glei was interviewing an author, Alex Pang, on how rest influences the creative process. He said:

"Winston Churchill, in a wonderful book called 'Painting as a Pastime' talks about how real relaxation doesn't come from doing nothing at all, if you're a busy person, but rather doing something different. 'An alternative outlook, a change of
atmosphere, a diversion of effort is essential,' as he says.

There's a fantastic study a few years ago of military reservists that found that military reservists, when they come back from a couple weeks or a month of service, turn out to exhibit the
same kinds of psychological benefits that people who's been on vacation exhibit.

The fact that they were off doing different kinds of things—even though they were physically strenuous, even though they were wearing a uniform—turned out to be really good for their attitudes and their resilience and their productivity at work.”

Wow. Exactly.

Many of us who are (or were) reservists look(ed) forward to our reserve jobs as a break from the busy-ness (or the tedium) of our normal
lives. We attack challenges with a fresh set of eyes,ready to work. But do we ever note how we feel when we go back to our civilian jobs? It feels good to come back refreshed, appreciative, ready to work!

Balancing a dual career might be complicated, but the grit and maturity that come from taking on new leadership opportunities and adapting to new situations has a lot of value. We reservists know that the good attitude, resilience and productivity Pang mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of serving your country.

Now, excuse me… it’s time to get back to work!

Click cover image to download a printable pdf